Masconomet football team focused on powerful Beverly team in last non-division game

Wednesday

Oct 10, 2012 at 12:01 AMOct 10, 2012 at 10:15 AM

Take away an opening game against Lowell in which Masconomet just didn’t seem ready for the season, and you effectively have two “undefeated” teams playing this Friday at Masconomet.

Joshua Boyd/Wicked Local Boxford

Take away an opening game against Lowell in which Masconomet just didn’t seem ready for the season, and you effectively have two “undefeated” teams playing this Friday at Masconomet.

Well, you can take away the quote marks in referring to Beverly, as they are a perfect 5-0 coming to Bunker Stadium. Masconomet is 4-1, though 4-0 since its Sept. 7 loss to the Red Raiders (21-0), the Chieftains’ traditional first opponent since 2009.

The Chieftains have certainly had tighter battles this year, winning their last three games by an average of six points, a touchdown. Meantime, Beverly has recently beaten its opponents by an average of 39 points, i.e. six touchdowns and a field goal.

“They play a Wing-T like Gloucester, they just have some more weapons,” said head coach Jim Pugh, whose Chieftains escaped with a 21-19 win over the Fishermen on Oct. 6. “They have the big playmakers. A lot of teams you play, they have to go 70 yards in a drive, but against Beverly, you have to prevent the 70-yard run or pass play.

“We have to play well defensively. We have to control the ball, and have good field position,” said Pugh.

On the other side, Dan Bauer is not undermining his team’s Friday night opponent by any means.

“Masco is a very good team. They beat Division 1 Catholic Memorial two weeks ago. They feature two excellent running backs [Mike Tivinis and Dylan Mann] and both their offensive and defensive lines are big and move well,” said Bauer.

Not to slight Tivinis or Mann, but the Panthers are coming in with Brendan Flaherty leading Division 2A in scoring (12 touchdowns and a pair of two-point conversions for 76 points). Kenny Pierce is not far behind, tied for sixth in the division with 50 points (eight TDs and a two-point conversion).

“They just play good, hard-nosed football,” said Pugh. “They have some skilled people who have been around for a long time. They’re going to be a tough team. It's not like you can just focus on Flaherty and Pierce – you've also got Isaiah White, he’s quick, and Dom Abate is still around.

“Our linebackers, Mike Mackay, Steve O'Reilly, Mackenzie Cashin and Andrew Swimm, are going to have to have a good day,” he added. “We don't want our defensive backs making all the tackles.”

For Masco’s part, Pugh hopes to see quarterback Chris Schleer and Dylan Mann combine to pick up big chunks of yardage.

“We just have to get into a groove, get our short passing game going and stay with our blocks longer,” Pugh said. “We have to give Chris and Dylan the opportunity to make something happen.”

The game against the Fishermen wasn’t quite as close as the score indicates. Masconomet was up 21-12 and let up a late touchdown to Gloucester, before the Chieftains got the ball with time running out, earned three first downs and took a knee.

“It was a good win, but it was not pretty,” Pugh said. “It was not a good offensive day for us, but defensively, it was a real physical battle. There was a lot of hitting going on, a lot of kids with bumps and bruises on both sides. It was a great one to win.”

Mann ran back a 75-yard punt return for Masconomet’s first touchdown.

Gloucester went up by two touchdowns, 12-7, before Adam Murphy returned a kickoff 57 yards to the Fishermen 35. From there, Schleer connected with Mann for a 35-yard TD pass, which sees Mann ranked in the top 15 for Division 1A scoring with 50 points. With four TD passes, Schleer is tied for fourth in Division 1A passing.

For the third touchdown, Kyle Taggart sacked Gloucester’s quarterback and John Tivinis (Mike’s older brother) scooped up the fumble and ran in for a touchdown.

“[Winning such a close game] is great for the team that scores the winner,” said Pugh. “It’s crushing for Gloucester. They were up 12-7, they moved the ball and they held us defensively. Mike Tivinis had 13 carries for 35 yards.

“Gloucester is a very good team and they’ll be in the thick of the NEC/CAL Division 2 with Beverly, Salem, Marblehead, Swampscott and Danvers,” Pugh added.